Microsoft announced today that depending on the European Commision's anti-trust requirements, it may delay the release of Windows Vista in Europe. Windows Vista would be delayed in Europe for the modification of the XP successor to meet anti-trust requirements. The European Commision responed promply. A representative said "It is not up to the Commission to give Microsoft a green light before Vista is put on the market; it is up to Microsoft to accept and implement its responsibilities as a near-monopolist to ensure full compliance with EU competition rules". The Commission and Microsoft are locked in a legal battle dating back to 2004 when Brussels hit the company with a 500 million Euro ($640 million) antitrust fine and required Microsoft change their business practices.

And why hasn't Microsoft said "Suck it, we are disabling all Windows copies in Europe if you don't let us do what we want. Lets see you country function without Windows PCs and Servers."

IMO, if it isn't illegal for other companies to do it(I am looking at you here Apple) then it shouldn't be illegal for Microsoft to do it, near-monopoly or not.

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Lets compare the revenue theyd lose and the cost of these fines. Hmm, i somehow dont see a cost-benefit analysis show that Microsoft should withdraw from the market. As for the monopoly issue, it has to be done to prevent exploitation. Whether the EU are right in this case or not, being a monopoly does mean that your conduct should be regulated.

Hey, if I was a multi-billion dollar company with more money then most of the countries in Europe I wouldn't really be worried about it.

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M$ is all about profits now and they won't withold it from the European market because they do want the money, and if they were to prevent us getting hold of it more people would pirate it or move to Macs meaning M$ loses nearly all future revenue in Europe.